1. Move-in condition: bathroom
At move-in, the unit's toilet was in the condition shown below. I photographed it the day I took possession and included the photo with my first maintenance request.
2. Showerhead repair
I reported a leaking showerhead. Maintenance entered the unit and applied blue painter's tape to the fixture, shown below. The maintenance ticket was then marked "completed" in the resident portal. The fixture was not replaced.
3. Bathroom exhaust fan
I reported that the bathroom exhaust fan runs loudly and continuously. The video below records the sound inside the unit. The ticket was closed; the motor was not replaced.
4. Escalation to regional management
I escalated these items to the Regional Operations Director (Daxx Esparza) and the Portfolio Maintenance Director (Oscar Bolanos). In the correspondence that followed, management asked me to submit new maintenance tickets for the same items, wrote that maintenance could not "visually verify" the issues, and stated that the matter was "closed" while the items remained unrepaired. The relevant emails are quoted verbatim below, and the full thread is available here:
Read the full email correspondence (PDF)5. Selected correspondence (quoted verbatim)
The excerpts below are quoted directly from the email thread. Senders, titles, and dates are reproduced as they appear in the correspondence; an ellipsis (…) marks text omitted for length. The complete thread is linked above.
March 7, 2026 — Initial maintenance notice
To: Avalon Dogpatch local management
"It has been more than two weeks since I moved in, and my move-in maintenance requests remain unresolved… Please confirm in writing that these issues will be fully resolved within 48 business hours. If they are not, I will escalate the matter and pursue all remedies available under my lease and applicable California law."
March 12, 2026 — Reply from George Chacon (Portfolio Operations Manager)
"I reviewed the attached photo of the toilet that was provided by our maintenance team. Based on the inspection and the image, the fixture is clean, functional, and operating as intended. For that reason, we will not be replacing the toilet at this time."
March 16, 2026 — Reply from Oscar Bolanos (Portfolio Maintenance Director)
"Regarding the toilet, it has already been inspected, and at this point we're planning to have it cleaned, as a full replacement doesn't appear necessary. For the shower head and exhaust fan, maintenance will take a closer look to see exactly what's needed."
March 16, 2026 — My reply to Oscar Bolanos & Daxx Esparza
"…your team has already inspected both the shower head and the exhaust fan and improperly attempted to fix both. They simply wrapped the leaking shower head in blue tape, and whatever was done to the exhaust fan failed completely… my permission for your team to enter my apartment… is officially revoked."
March 16, 2026 — Follow-up from Oscar Bolanos (Portfolio Maintenance Director)
"Maintenance will not be heading to your home, as they're unable to resolve a problem they can't visually verify."
March 16, 2026 — My reply
"Your team has already been inside my unit twice. They 'visually verified' the leaking shower head enough to wrap it in blue tape. They 'visually verified' the bathroom exhaust fan enough to attempt a repair that failed to stop the constant, industrial-level noise."
March 17, 2026 — Reply from Daxx Esparza (Sr. Portfolio Operations Director)
"In the meantime, since you have advised you are no longer seeking resolution with us, we will consider this matter closed and will no longer follow-up with you accordingly."
March 17, 2026 — My reply
"…Asking me to submit a new maintenance request for these exact same unresolved defects…"
March 20, 2026 — My final notice
To: Daxx Esparza (Sr. Portfolio Operations Director)
"…I am being forced to relocate due to corporate management's… refusal to resolve… physical defects in my unit… The San Francisco Rent Board and the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) will be reviewing this entire paper trail."